THE Welsh Women’s Gymnastics team scooped all four gold medals at the recent fifth UK School Games competition in Newcastle.

Olympic hopeful Venus Romaeo, pictured, took gold on vault and bars, with Northern Ireland’s Nicole Mawhinney and English gymnast Rebecca Tunney trailing in second and third places respectively.

Romaeo, current British Espoir champion, took gold on beam, as well as bronze on bars, and an extremely artistic routine saw Keira Brennan also take a gold medal on floor.

Tracey Skirton-Davies, national coach for Wales, said: “I am delighted that the gymnasts performed to their best.

“It was an extremely high-level competition and they performed like true professionals.

“After winning the UK schools team competition on home ground in Cardiff in 2009, there was a lot of expectation on the gymnasts and they certainly rose to the occasion”.

Wales’ strength in depth was certainly shown at this event, with two other Olympic hopefuls, Jessica Hogg and Lizzie Beddoe, both rested.

These gymnast’s must have been inspired by Jessica Hogg’s recent return from the Youth Olympic Games in Singapore where she finished fifth on floor and was one of very few British gymnast’s to reach an Olympic final.

Meanwhile, the men’s team continued their excellent performance levels by taking four bronze medals.

A new refocused men’s programme started three years ago and has developed a depth of gymnasts working towards world-class levels.

Cilan Thomas and Joseph Rowland took bronze medals on high bar and pommels respectively. The P.Bar judges could not separate James Elliot and Iwan Mepham, who were awarded joint third place.

Wales’ men’s senior team, which is ineligible to compete at this event, are firmly focused on Commonwealth Games in Delhi next month.